Drawer mounting and guide



Aug. 26, 1941.

G. T. APPLEYARD DRAWER MOUNTING AND GUIDE Filed Sept; 25, 1940 Patented Aug. 26, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE DRAWER MOUNTING AND GUIDE George Thomas Appleyard, Winston-Salem, N. 0. Application September 25, 1940, Serial No. 358,352

4 Claims.

This invention relates to drawer guides for furniture. Slide drawer structures now employed usually include side guides-to support thedrawer, and a bar arranged within the cabinet'structure beneath and in the median line of the drawerand disposed parallel with the direction of the movement of the drawer, while the bottom of the drawer itself is provided with a member somewhat similar, but channeled, to embrace and slide upon the bar. These parts are usually of wood, and swelling or warping of either member causes binding I or sticking and renders the drawer unfit for use. Should the channel in the drawer member be considerably widened to obviate such contingenecy, resultinglateralplay would be objectionable.

It is the object of the present invention to provide means for overcoming these objections, to eliminate the side guides, and further to so suspend or support the drawer as' to permit of its free and unimpeded sliding movement with a minimum of friction between the drawer and the support or sides of the cabinet.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved drawer guide which is of simp e and economical construction, may be easily and quickly applied to the drawer, and which embodies means of improved character to hold the same securely in proper position upon the drawer.

The foregoing objects, as well as others which will appear as the description proceeds, are attained by the construction and arrangement hereinafter detailed, illustrated in the drawing and particularly pointed out in the claims, wherein:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section taken. through a cabinet of familiar construction and showing the drawer aranged in accordance with. the invention,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary transverse section taken through the drawer,

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing the mounting of the drawer on the guide rail,

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a similar view taken on line 55 of Figure 3,

Figure 6 is a detail perspective view of the improved guide member,

Figure 7 is a detail section showing a modified form oi the guide member, and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary rear elevation of the drawer back plate, showing a slight modification In the drawing, l0 represents generally a conventional cabinet structure having a suitable opening for the accommodation of the usual sliding drawer II. A bar l2, usually of wood, is arranged in the bottom of the drawer opening and projects above the bottom plate 13 of the cabinet structure, in the median line of the drawer opening and parallel with the direction of movement of the drawer. This bar or rail extends throughout the depth of the drawer opening and may be secured to the cabinet by any desired means.

The drawer ll isof a'size to be properly accommodated within the opening, to allow the usual side and top clearances for free sliding movement, and includes face and rear plates l4-l5, sides i6 and a bottom I1. The bottom I! is spaced upwardly from the lower edges of the face and rear plates l5 and the sides I6, and the lower edges of the sides slidably rest upon the bottom plate l3 of the cabinet structure.

The lower edge of the rear plate I5 of the drawer is notched or recessed intermediate its ends, the said recess being of slightly greater length than the breadth of the bar or rail l2. This recess is so located as to accommodate the said bar or rail I2.

Arranged within the notch or recess is a guide member constructed preferably of metal, and of such formation as to slidably receive the bar or rail l2. This guide includes a body having a bearing face l8 of a length corresponding substantialy to, or slightly greater than, the breadth of the rail l2 and end wings l9 projecting from the bearing face so as to be disposed one upon each side of the bar or rail l2. The guide may correspond substantially to theshape and size of the recess or notch in the drawer plate, although the said notch may be of greater length than the bearing face l8 of the guide in order that adjustments of the guide body may be made.

Various means may be employed for securing the guide member firmly to the plate l5. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a pair of arms 20 project from each end of the end wings l9 and spaced apart a distance such as will enable such arms to frictionally embrace the adjacent portions of the plate l5. To secure the arms 20 to the plate without resorting to additional retaining elements, the arms 20 may be canted or disposed in downwardly converging relationship, so that when the guide is forced into the recess of the plate IS, the lower constricted portions of the arm pairs will bite into the wood of the said rear plate.

The guide also includes longitudinal rounded portions 2| co-extensive with the bearing face l8 and engaging around so as to enclose the edges of the bottom of the recess in the rear plate I5.

If desired, the canted or converged arm arrangement may be dispensed with, and a tack may be driven through the bearing face It and into the wood of the plate to retain the guide in position. The guide may also include a retaining plate portion 22, Figure '7, extending from an edge of the bearing face 18 and through which a retaining tack may be driven to secure the plate portion firmly to the member [5.

The recess in the plate l5 and the arrangement of the guide therein is such that the weight of the rear end of the drawer is borne entirely by the bar or rail l 2; the bearing face It sustaining this weight. The end wings l9 will clear the sides of the rail l2 only sufiicient to permit of free unimpeded sliding movement, and the corners of these wings may be rounded as at I9 to insure smooth sliding and to obviate scraping of bar 12. I

By this arrangement, a positive guide of the drawer is assured, notwithstanding expansion, contraction, or warping of the guidebar, and. the three point suspension for the drawerpermits of free sliding movement at all times. The use of a guide constructed in accordance with this invention economizes the construction of the cabinet and drawer as it eliminates the use of side guides. The suspension of the weight of the drawer in the center ona metallic bearing surface reduces friction to a minimum and insures easy sliding. The notch in the rear drawer panel may be made somewhat wider than the guide strip to permit of lateral adjustment of the guide body when required.

In Figure 8 of the drawing the notch, indicated at 23, is shown larger than the guide so as to allow for such adjustment. The arms 2!] grip the plate l5 sufficiently to hold the guide in position but lateral adjustments may be made by tapping it lightly with a hammer. When proper adjustment is made, a nail or tack '24 driven through retaining plate 22 will hold the guide fixed. It is obvious, however, that the tack may be dispensed with and reliance may be had on the spring arms or other means to hold the guide fast.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful is:

1. In a drawer structure, a drawer having an end plate with a recess in its lower edge, a guide comprising a body to fit within said recess, portions of said body enclosing all edges of said recess, and arms projecting from said body and embracing said plate to secure the body to said plate.

2. In a drawer structure, a drawer having an end plate, said plate having a recess in its lower edge, a guide comprising a body having a depressed portion, said depressed portion being of a length and depth to fit within said recess, and gripper arms arranged in pairs and projecting from the ends of said guide to engage the end plate adjacent to said recess, the arms of each pair disposed in converging relation downwardly to bite into the embraced portions of said plate.

3. In a drawer structure, a drawer having an end plate, said plate having a recess in its lower edge, a guide comprising a body having a bearing surface to lie in the base ofsaid recess, wings projecting from said bearing portion and disposed substantially parallel with the end walls of said recess, arms projecting from the edges of said wings to embrace the end plate adjacent to said recess, the upper edges of said arms spaced apart a distance subsequently equal to the thickness of said plate, and the lower edges of said arms being spaced apart a distance less than the thickness of said plate.

4. In a drawer structure, a cabinet having a drawer opening and a bar in the bottom thereof disposed centrally of and parallel with the direction of movement of said drawer, the rear plate of said drawer having a recess in its lower edge midway the ends thereof, a metal guide member having a centrally depressed channel fitting within said recess and slidablyembracing said rail, and arms projecting from the ends of said guide and engaging opposite sides of said drawer plate and securing the guide to said plate.

GEORGE THOMAS APPLEYARD. 

